A brilliant light, marking the entrance to Charleston harbor, incongruously soars over the city’s modest skyline. I made this image from the Fort Sumter ferry in mid-morning, yet the featured light tower, complemented by the textures of the water and the deep blue sky overhead, seems to suggest a much earlier time of day. The lack of contemporary skyscrapers reflects not only Charleston’s efforts to preserve the character of its historic past, but also the toll that the city’s economic challenges have taken over the years. Two devastating sieges, a major earthquake, and a destructive hurricane have shaped the appearance of the present day city.